Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Perry Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the preferred choice in Perry, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of residents. The next most popular primary heating fuel for Perry residents is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The remaining homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).
Perry County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,796,352 | 282,182 | 1,447,260 | 663,450 | 112,270 | 7,204 | 31,146 |
| 2024 | 2,785,913 | 276,598 | 1,396,275 | 685,083 | 111,416 | 6,155 | 32,085 |
| 2023 | 2,698,411 | 278,621 | 1,389,291 | 717,601 | 111,540 | 6,964 | 44,558 |
| 2022 | 2,710,114 | 282,625 | 1,337,240 | 742,118 | 105,147 | 5,282 | 41,959 |
| 2021 | 2,677,533 | 267,454 | 1,287,322 | 760,867 | 109,832 | 4,867 | 46,436 |
| 2020 | 2,656,062 | 251,472 | 1,254,850 | 776,616 | 113,900 | 4,554 | 41,326 |
| 2019 | 2,634,591 | 235,490 | 1,222,377 | 792,365 | 117,969 | 4,241 | 36,216 |
| 2018 | 2,592,386 | 225,476 | 1,198,450 | 806,761 | 128,110 | 2,197 | 35,172 |
| 2017 | 2,598,275 | 222,650 | 1,158,937 | 790,353 | 127,198 | 2,225 | 35,586 |
| 2016 | 2,551,248 | 209,719 | 1,133,797 | 805,822 | 125,583 | 1,639 | 34,565 |
| 2015 | 2,549,385 | 200,754 | 1,103,995 | 837,082 | 141,835 | 2,117 | 38,034 |
| 2014 | 2,528,694 | 198,296 | 1,087,741 | 858,758 | 148,256 | 1,760 | 36,886 |
| 2013 | 2,516,052 | 195,799 | 1,086,074 | 870,064 | 148,597 | 1,408 | 33,941 |
| 2012 | 2,530,063 | 188,880 | 1,046,982 | 936,674 | 145,089 | 1,484 | 31,494 |
| 2011 | 2,516,883 | 178,387 | 1,019,764 | 973,749 | 137,625 | 1,545 | 28,259 |
| 2010 | 2,530,446 | 177,562 | 997,925 | 993,832 | 126,074 | 597 | 29,423 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Perry
Oil has become less popular in Perry. In the 9 years since 2016, the number of homeowners using fuel oil declined from 805,822 to 663,450, a 18% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Perry
Between 2016 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel rose from 209,719 to 282,182, a 35% change. Comparing 2016 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel rose from 2,551,248 to 2,796,352, a 10% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Perry
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Perry. Since 2016, the number of homes heating with electricity increased from 1,133,797 to 1,447,260, a 28% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Perry
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid is circulated between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. As it stands today, 7,204 homes in Perry are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 340% gain from 2016, when 1,639 homes had active solar heating.
Perry County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Perry County homeowners purchased a total of 2 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Perry’s overall oil consumption changes yearly depending on winter temperatures. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ boilers need to burn additional fuel oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Perry was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Perry County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 29.3° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 34.8° F |
Perry County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Perry households heating with number two heating oil, selecting which of the 11 heating oil companies that serve Perry is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who can afford a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 12 “full-service” oil companies that serve Perry. Full service companies such as Suburban Propane or WC Eshenaur & Son Inc offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and HVAC repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s number two heating oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: Also known by the names “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for households who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. A few of the 2 Perry cash heating oil companies serving Perry include Lisi Oil Co and Marstellar Oil & Concrete Inc.
Perry Oil Company Statistics: Oil Companies Serving Perry: 11 companies .
Average Number of Perry Homes Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 60314
Perry Heating Oil Delivery Overview
663,450 homes in Perry heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Perry temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Perry houses depend on fuel oil delivery each winter.
6.1% of Perry County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Perry County Households | Perry County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 10.7M | 663,450 |
36 Perry Number Two Heating Oil Companies You Can Trust
With 507,486,889 gallons of heating oil delivered to Perry residences last winter, the Perry community relies on its 36 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Perry, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to homes and businesses throughout Perry and the surrounding region.
